The Garden at Rock Cottage

Cautious March

by Lance Brilliantine

They say that April is the cruelest month. Maybe so, but I can tell you that March is certainly the most fickle of months! It is one of those months that is not able to make up its mind. I notice signs of spring on a daily basis, e.g., more sunlight, longer days, tell-tale spots of wild onion and weeds showing around stumps along roadways. Yet I also see the continuing signs of winter. March can provide a wallop with rain, snow, and ice - all in one day. Of course, the urge to garden grows strong at this time of year, and I have already started seedlings to transplant once the weather is consistently warm in mid-May.

Knowing what to do and what not to do is important at this time of year. Though it is hard to resist the outdoors, it is important to proceed cautiously. Take on those tasks that help to get a jump-start on spring; delay those that may cause problems if the weather provides surprises.

Snow and rain in the winter and spring can leave garden soil wet and soggy. Resist the urge to walk on or dig up beds when they’re saturated. Treading on soggy soil compacts it and decreases its natural drainage. Before walking on or digging in soil this month, test it by taking a handful of soil and pressing it into a ball. Drop the ball onto the ground. If it stays in a ball the soil is probably too wet to work. If it crumbles and breaks apart, it is all right to proceed.

March is an excellent time to perform yard clean up. Remove twigs and branches that have accumulated over the winter (they make excellent kindling wood). Rake remaining leaves on lawns, in ground covers and flower beds. Winter mulches can be slowly removed this month, especially from beds with spring bulbs. Pull back mulches wherever plants are showing signs of growth. Since winter mulches act as protectors against quick temperature changes and chilling winds, acclimate plants slowly over several weeks. It is better to remove mulch later rather than sooner. Spring bulbs will benefit from removal of mulch, even when some of their new foliage may be burned by cold temperatures. This will have no net effect on the flowers.

March is also a good time to add lime to lawns. Garden lime lowers soil acidity and acid soil cannot use fertilizer effectively. If you are not sure whether you should lime or not, have it tested. Lawns can also be re-seeded in March, even though Fall is probably the best time to re-seed lawns. Many gardeners over-seed in mid-April, but March is a great time to seed. The soil is wet enough to set seeds up for germination and warm days in April will position grass seed to emerge. This early emergence gives grass seed the maximum time to acclimate before drier summer weather sets in.

Ornamental grasses can be cut back to within six inches above the ground. Other perennials can have dead stalks removed. You can also prune trees and shrubs. Prune to remove broken trees or shrub branches. Never prune spring-blooming plants that have bloomed in the previous year, until after they have bloomed. Don’t worry about sap bleeding from pruning cuts on elm, maple, dogwood, walnut, and birch trees. This bleeding won’t hurt the tree. Roses benefit from pruning late in March or early April and will result in nicer, long-stemmed flowers.

If the soil is workable, mix in plenty of organic material as you work. Plants growing in well-cultivated soil need less fertilizer and are better able to deal with disease and insects. A better soil structure increases drainage and air space and helps soil retain moisture in dry weather. Organic matter includes homemade compost, composted cow manure, peat and even compost from local recycling groups.

Early spring is a good time to treat Canadian hemlocks. Check for little, white cottony masses along where needles meet stems. If these masses are present, it suggests an infection by a sucking insect that can destroy hemlocks (woolly adelgid). Spray hemlocks thoroughly with an insecticidal oil spray to suffocate these pests.

Oh, March may be the ficklest of months – but it can also be rewarding. If you are like me, every opportunity to get my hands into the soil is welcome at this time of year!

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.